Policies & Guidelines

Program Status

Students enrolled in the MEd (DE) program will be expected to maintain program status by completing six credits of course work (two 3-credit courses) in each academic year (September 1 – August 31).

Students will also be expected to maintain a minimum GPA. In core courses, the lowest acceptable grade is B-. In elective courses, the lowest acceptable grade is C+. Students who receive a grade lower than these minimums may be required to withdraw from the program.

Time Limit

Students have a maximum of six years from their first registration as a program student to complete the MEd (DE) program.

Residency and Transfer Credit

To meet the residency requirements, students must complete a minimum of seven courses (21 credits) through Athabasca University. These must include at least four courses (12 credits) from the core curriculum.

Students with relevant previous education may be eligible for transfer credit, up to a maximum of four courses (12 credits) including only one course (3 credits) from the core curriculum. Transfer credit will not be granted for courses that have been credited toward another degree or credential.

Students enrolled in the MEd (DE) program who wish to take courses from another institution and have them credited toward their degree may request a Letter of Permission from the Program Director.

Course Extensions

In exceptional circumstances, and where the course instructor concurs, students may be granted a short course extension. Students taking MDDE courses may submit assignments up to 30 days after the last day of the course upon approval of the instructor.

A further Course Extension is required to submit assignments after that date. Course Extensions for a period of up to 50 extra days may be granted upon approval of the instructor and payment of a $250 Course Extension Fee. Courses not completed within 90 days of the final day of the course may receive a grade of "F".

Course Withdrawals

Students may withdraw from a course by submitting a Withdrawal Request Form to mde@athabascau.ca. Students should not return any printed course materials.

If a student withdraws from a course before the early withdrawal deadline (30 days from the course start date), no record of the course will appear on their official transcript. Students will receive a refund of the full course tuition fee less the course withdrawal processing fee ($350).

If a student withdraws from a course after the first month of the course and before the last month of the course, their official transcript will show a W, meaning that the student withdrew without credit and without prejudice or academic penalty. No refund will be granted.

Program Withdrawals

Students may withdraw from the program by submitting their request in writing to the program director.

Students who withdraw are welcome to re-apply at a later date, but will be competing against all other applicants and will not receive special consideration

Grading System

With the exception of MDDE 694, 701, 702, 703, and 704, which will be graded on a pass/fail basis, all courses will be graded using the Alpha/4.0 grading scale.

Graduation

When students are enrolled in the final course of their program, they must submit an online Application to Graduate through the Office of the Registrar (http://registrar.athabascau.ca/forms/).

Graduations are processed and parchments sent via mail every month. Students who graduate before May 1 will be invited to Convocation in Athabasca in June.